Where are the Separation of Church and State activists in Iowa?

The school is going to use public resources to have an Islamic party on public school grounds to recognize an Islamic holiday that doesn’t even take place until the following month.

Yes: public schools are giving Islam special treatment in Iowa City. And probably in your school district, too.

I’ve mentioned that I follow CAIR national and their state affiliates. Almost every month they announce free “activist workshops” for ‘students’.

They offer all types of ‘activist’ training, for all ages, for media spokespeople, how to get involved in the political realm, etc., but I’ve noticed they often focus on training Youth.

These workshops train young Muslims how to change their schools. This Iowa City situation is a perfect example.

A group of elementary students asked the school board to recognize the Muslim religious holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. These child “activists” said, “the Muslim community is getting bigger here in Iowa City, so getting the holiday off will benefit many people.”

Another young activist said at the board meeting, “I don’t really think it’s fair people get to celebrate Halloween and stuff, and we don’t get to celebrate our holiday.”

These child activists asked the board to make both Eids official school holidays, in which the school would close. One result of this meeting was that the school is now planning a party in May to recognize Eid Al-Fitr on public school grounds, even though Eid doesn’t happen until June (summer, when school is out).

Christmas is not recognized by the Iowa City School District (nor are Jewish holidays).

The Iowa City school calendar lists December 25th as a “Holiday” (non-specific, not named), as opposed to how they will be listing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Yes, December 25th falls during “Winter Break”, but I remember when Winter Break was called Christmas break, or, at least Christmas was acknowledged as Christmas on the calendar, not just ‘holiday’.

This school is not only acknowledging an Islamic religious holiday, and naming it, but is doing it a month sooner than it actually takes place, specifically so that it will be forced on all children. I think this makes Islam seem special and Christianity and Judaism irrelevant.

Cheri Berens lives in Egypt working as a researcher for the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. She experienced Egypt’s 2011 and 2013 revolutions and witnessed the Muslim Brotherhood takeover and violence that followed.

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